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Sañé E, Ingrassia M, Chiocci FL, Argenti L, Martorelli E. Characterization of rhodolith beds-related backscatter facies from the western Pontine Archipelago (Mediterranean Sea). MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 169:105339. [PMID: 33932846 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Rhodoliths (nodular calcareous red algae) are considered one of the most important bioengineers in the Mediterranean Sea, making rhodolith beds ecologically relevant ecosystems. On the insular shelf surrounding the western Pontine Archipelago (depth from 43 to 112 m), rhodolith beds were identified through the analysis of an extensive dataset of grab samples and videos to ground-truth the backscatter acoustic facies. Six acoustic facies (low backscatter, dishomogeneous low-backscatter, dishomogeneous high-backscatter, high-backscatter, rocks and high backscatter, and rocks and medium backscatter) were recognized. We studied how rhodoliths characteristics (density, morphotype, size and structure) differently influence the backscatter signature. At the western Pontine Archipelago, rhodolith beds are mainly represented by facies dishomogeneous high backscatter, high backscatter, high backscatter with rocks, and medium backscatter with rocks. The obtained results increase both the knowledge on the heterogeneous structure of such ecologically relevant benthic habitat and highlight the use of distinctive acoustic facies for their identification. Finally, the used approach could be considered a useful method for indirect detection and mapping of rhodolith beds.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Sañé
- CoNISMa (Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare), Rome, Italy.
| | - M Ingrassia
- CNR-IGAG (Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria), UOS Roma, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - F L Chiocci
- Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - L Argenti
- Via Clarice Tartufari 161, 00128, Rome, Italy
| | - E Martorelli
- CNR-IGAG (Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria), UOS Roma, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
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Benthic Foraminiferal Assemblages and Rhodolith Facies Evolution in Post-LGM Sediments from the Pontine Archipelago Shelf (Central Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy). GEOSCIENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/geosciences11040179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The seabed of the Pontine Archipelago (Tyrrhenian Sea) insular shelf is peculiar as it is characterized by a mixed siliciclastic–carbonate sedimentation. In order to reconstruct the Late Quaternary paleoenvironmental evolution of the Pontine Archipelago, this study investigates the succession of facies recorded by two sediment cores. For this purpose, benthic foraminifera and rhodoliths assemblages were considered. The two cores (post-Last Glacial Maximum in age) were collected at 60 (CS1) and 122 m (Caro1) depth on the insular shelf off Ponza Island. The paleontological data were compared with seismo-stratigraphic and lithological evidence. The cores show a deepening succession, with a transition from a basal rhodolith-rich biodetritic coarse sand to the surface coralline-barren silty sand. This transition is more evident along core Caro1 (from the bottom to the top), collected at a deeper water depth than CS1. In support of this evidence, along Caro1 was recorded a fairly constant increase in the amount of planktonic foraminiferal and a marked change in benthic foraminiferal assemblages (from Asterigerinata mamilla and Lobatula lobatula assemblage to Cassidulina carinata assemblage). Interestingly, the dating of the Caro1 bottom allowed us to extend to more than 13,000 years BP the rhodolith record in the Pontine Archipelago, indicating the possible presence of an active carbonate factory at that time.
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Rendina F, Kaleb S, Caragnano A, Ferrigno F, Appolloni L, Donnarumma L, Russo GF, Sandulli R, Roviello V, Falace A. Distribution and Characterization of Deep Rhodolith Beds off the Campania coast (SW Italy, Mediterranean Sea). PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 9:E985. [PMID: 32759681 PMCID: PMC7463569 DOI: 10.3390/plants9080985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Rhodolith beds (RBs) are bioconstructions characterized by coralline algae, which provide habitat for several associated species. Mediterranean RBs are usually located in the mesophotic zone (below 40 m), and thus are frequently remote and unexplored. Recently, the importance and vulnerability of these habitats have been recognized by the European Community and more attention has been drawn to their investigation and conservation. This study reports the results of an extensive monitoring program, carried out within the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC), in six sites off the Campania coast (Italy, Mediterranean Sea). New insights were given into the distribution, cover, vitality (i.e., live/dead rhodolith ratio), structural complexity, and coralline algae composition of RBs. Remotely operated vehicles (ROV) investigations allowed the description of several RBs, and the discovery of a RB with rhodolith cover >65% offshore the Capri Island. Only two sites (Secchitiello and Punta Campanella) showed a very low mean cover of live rhodoliths (<10%); hence, not being classifiable as RBs. The collected rhodoliths were mostly small pralines (~2 cm), spheroidal to ellipsoidal, with growth-forms ranging from encrusting/warty to fruticose/lumpy. Coralline algae identification revealed a high diversity within each bed, with a total of 13 identified taxa. The genus Lithothamnion dominated all sites, and Phymatolithon calcareum and Lithothamnion corallioides, protected by the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), were detected in all RBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Rendina
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Naples “Parthenope”, URL CoNISMa, Centro Direzionale, Is. C4, 80143 Naples, Italy; (F.F.); (L.A.); (L.D.); (G.F.R.); (R.S.)
| | - Sara Kaleb
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 10, I-34127 Trieste, Italy; (S.K.); (A.C.); (A.F.)
| | - Annalisa Caragnano
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 10, I-34127 Trieste, Italy; (S.K.); (A.C.); (A.F.)
| | - Federica Ferrigno
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Naples “Parthenope”, URL CoNISMa, Centro Direzionale, Is. C4, 80143 Naples, Italy; (F.F.); (L.A.); (L.D.); (G.F.R.); (R.S.)
| | - Luca Appolloni
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Naples “Parthenope”, URL CoNISMa, Centro Direzionale, Is. C4, 80143 Naples, Italy; (F.F.); (L.A.); (L.D.); (G.F.R.); (R.S.)
| | - Luigia Donnarumma
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Naples “Parthenope”, URL CoNISMa, Centro Direzionale, Is. C4, 80143 Naples, Italy; (F.F.); (L.A.); (L.D.); (G.F.R.); (R.S.)
| | - Giovanni Fulvio Russo
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Naples “Parthenope”, URL CoNISMa, Centro Direzionale, Is. C4, 80143 Naples, Italy; (F.F.); (L.A.); (L.D.); (G.F.R.); (R.S.)
| | - Roberto Sandulli
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Naples “Parthenope”, URL CoNISMa, Centro Direzionale, Is. C4, 80143 Naples, Italy; (F.F.); (L.A.); (L.D.); (G.F.R.); (R.S.)
| | - Valentina Roviello
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering, University of Naples “Federico II”, Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy;
| | - Annalisa Falace
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 10, I-34127 Trieste, Italy; (S.K.); (A.C.); (A.F.)
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Mastrototaro F, Aguilar R, Alvarez H, Blanco J, García S, Montesanto F, Perry AL, Chimienti G. Mesophotic rocks dominated by Diazona violacea: a Mediterranean codified habitat. THE EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/24750263.2020.1837972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- F. Mastrototaro
- Department of Biology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
- CoNISMa, Roma, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - F. Montesanto
- Department of Biology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
- CoNISMa, Roma, Italy
| | | | - G. Chimienti
- Department of Biology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
- CoNISMa, Roma, Italy
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